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About this siteFor six years, the Internet Nexus served as my technology blog, but I've since started blogging at the SuperSite Blog instead. If you're looking for the blog, please head there. --Paul Wednesday, July 28, 2004For Apple, Harmony Is Off-KeyBusiness Week Online: "RealNetworks thinks it has found a way to break Apple's lock [on the digital music market]. As of July 27, consumers can go to Real's Web site and download software, dubbed Harmony, that lets them play songs purchased at Real's download store on any portable player they choose -- including the iPod. What's more, Real is in talks to license Harmony to other online stores that might also want to sell to iPod users -- without Apple's approval. 'Apple clearly has a great device with the iPod, and that's great for them,' says Richard Wolpert, Real's chief strategic officer. 'But we just want consumers to be able to choose whatever device they want to choose. We think that will make the entire market grow.' You might think Apple would welcome a product that encourages consumers to legally download music onto their player. But it's said to be more than a little unhappy, and with good reason. Apple CEO Steven P. Jobs should clearly and firmly squelch Real's attempt to infiltrate Apple's music empire. GartnerG2 analyst Mike McGuire sums it up: 'At some point, Apple may decide to license [its iPod technology] to others. But they should do it for good business reasons, not because a rival issues a press release or some beta software.' Apple isn't commenting on Real's move yet. But it's almost certainly exploring the possibility of a copyright lawsuit. And that's not the only option. Experts say it could require iPod owners to download a firmware upgrade the next time they try to buy a song from iTunes that would render Harmony useless -- much as a security patch resolves a computer virus." [ Posted at 1:35 PM | Permalink ]
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